While this week has been a quiet one in the ICT sector, one of the more interesting bits of news is that Telkom's managing executive of retail marketing Steven Hayward has withdrawn his resignation.
After 12 years at Telkom, Hayward resigned last month, but no reason was given for his decision. This week, ITWeb caught up with Hayward, who basically implied he was just a little confused and perhaps felt a little unloved.
"I just wasn't sure where the company was going and what my place would be. I'm a strategic animal and I couldn't see the progress that was being made. I felt I needed to do something different."
What the hell would terrorists want with Zimbabwe, anyway? There's nothing left to blow up, and the country is hardly of strategic importance to anyone.
Martin Czernowalow, news editor, ITWeb
Now, while relaxing on a game farm to clear his head, Telkom's so-called "propaganda minister" says he has found some clarity and is ready to take up the interim position of managing executive: CEO support. Here, it is understood, he will be responsible for assisting the office of Telkom's CEO with the implementation of various strategic initiatives.
Commenting on his nickname, earned for consistently painting a flattering picture of the fixed-line monopoly, Hayward said: "That wasn't propaganda, it was just my effort to focus on the positive changes that were being made."
Yeah, I hear you. I say potato, you say...
Zimbabweans brace for butt-kicking
Just when we thought that things could not get any worse for our northern neighbours, president Robert Mugabe is winding up to administer yet another kick to the butt of the long-suffering Zimbabwean populace.
Yes, the benevolent Mugabe is about to sign the Inception of Communications Bill into law, which will give the state power to tap telephone conversations, check e-mails and monitor cyberspace for material seen as threatening to national security.
Two things strike me as ironic about this. Firstly, Mugabe is taking a page out of the much-hated colonialists' book, and is following the example of the paranoia-stricken US and UK. The Bill is, supposedly, modelled on similar legislation enacted in the west to protect citizens against the imposing threat of terrorism. Sounds like a lot of idiotic Bush BS to me.
Secondly: terrorism? What the hell would terrorists want with Zimbabwe, anyway? There's nothing left to blow up, and the country is hardly of strategic importance to anyone. Besides, if I was a terrorist, I'd be scared to go to Zimbabwe - you can get locked up and beaten for just looking odd.
Cough up, it's better this way
ITWeb also reported this week that motorists will soon have their cojones squeezed even more. The SA National Road Agency is gearing up to roll-out a multimillion-rand e-tagging solution to revolutionise the collection of tolls on the county's highways.
Fantastic. You'll be happy to know that the system is part of a R22 billion scheme to improve several roads in Gauteng, which suffer from serious congestion.
Not sure how this will improve things, but it will be the country's first open road tolling solution, which will make toll collection easier and quicker, requiring no human intervention. Oh, and you will have to pay for your e-tag or other gizmo that will help the state rip you off.
According to current plans, the world is scheduled to become a better place by 2010 or 2011. So, take a deep breath, close your eyes and cough.
SA snubs Big Brother law
SA's own efforts to shield its citizens from religious-fundamentalist terrorists, or something, is getting the cold shoulder from local Internet service providers (ISPs).
The intrusive Regulation of Interception and Provision of Communication-related Information Act (RICA) has not received the open-arm welcome that government was hoping for, and ISPs are squealing about the costs involved.
They're saying the cost to install lawful intercept technology to monitor voice and data traffic across their networks would fall in the region of about R2.8 million - seen as an unnecessary expense.
I just wonder, if government is so pumped up about fighting crime, perhaps a back-to-basics approach should be considered first. Like, how about buying some bullet-proof vests, some police cars that work and maybe training some cops in the fine art of answering a ringing charge office phone.
After that, let's go hunt down Al-Qaeda.
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